Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-27

her black silk dress and lace cap, rest
ing for once. Gilbert looked down on
her with face full of emotion when l
introduced him, and only that it would
have been un-English [ am sure tna'
he would have kissed the hand she OF,
fered him. No doubt they were all
stirred good deal at this first meeting
but they tell to talking commonpleces'
as people do about his journey and the
weather; and then l slipped out oil the
room TO look for Marion.
She was standing by the bedroom
window looking out at the HOOD OF
moonlight that seemed to battle the
landscape in its serene tide. She wore
a white dress. and in the faint hSht sue
looke d very pale.
"Gilbert is here" | said.
eyes, saw you come up the drive
with him."
"Then won't you come down to see
him?"
Certainly / am quite ready.
"How grand you are
"In an old white muslin frock
cit isn't an old frock; it is yourvery
newest"
$50 it is. and one OF the few dresses
I never wore in London"
The light in the drawing-room was
very faint when we entered IT, D1t
| Gilbert saw us and rose to greet us.
Though knew it was needless | intro
duced them, and Marion bowed iii 81
lence. which made every one feel con-
strained, and we were all uncomiorta-
| bic till dinner was announced.
That put us more at our ease. and
when once Marion had begun to talk
she was perfectly brilliant. L had
never heard her so witty or so amusing.
could not help wondering il Gilbert
found her much changed, for ! noticed
him looking at her curiously many
times.
OF course I saw nothing of Gilbert
alone that night but next morning L
was in the garden betimes. Possibly
the knowledge that he was there before
me had fastened my movements lit
| tie.
81 hope you like my people, " said,
slipping my hand through his arm and
irving to accommodate my pace TO his.
every much, indeed"
care they what you expected.
81 expected less than the reality"
Go you find Marion much
changed ?"
| "Yos."
"But she's beautiful still"
"More beautiful than ever, Think.
81 wish l looked like her. [ should
DO more credit to your taste then"
Beauty is not everything"
$50 people say: but no one ever
said that it was not very great deal. "
We went into breakfast after time,
and that morning it was MariOn's whim
not to notice Gilbert but he did not
seem to mind much. He directed all
his conversation to mother, and mother
seemed to like him.
Father had several letters that morn
ing. and mother had one from Aunt
| Hilda. but Gilbert had none, nor was
there any recognizable reason why he
| ST ould say as soon as we were alone: 81
think / shall go back to town to-day,
Lucy"
"To-day?" I echoed blankly.
eyes. shall speak to your father
as soon as / can make an opportunity,
and then there will lie nothing to detain
ne further
"Then you wish to leave?"
II don't wish it, Lucy, but think |
ought to leave
| :. WILL met a. Won liko "
he had been standing by the hearth,
but now be came over beside me and
put his arm round me.
"Instead of staying here with you,
| want you to come and stay with me
as soon as ever you can. Lucy, when
will you be my wife 2"
"0h, I don't know; have not
thought of that"
"Then think Of it now-this is Sep
TENDER. Shall We say the first week in
October?"
"Ihree weeks OFF,"
eyes, why not ! You don't want
any parapheInalia or display"
"0b, no l should like to be mar
ried quite quietly, though Aunt Hilda
has determined ON q great ceremony"
"Do you know what l have been
wondering since ] came here, Lucy?"
"NO what is 1t 2"
at was about your Aunt Hilda. But
it is of no consequence.
"Oh, yes, it is You must tell me ! "
"Well, / was wondering whether she
is n malignant witch or good woman. "
"Oh, you rude man How can you
say such horrid thing?'
II did not say it; only thought it. "
"Well, You may make up your mind
that she is very good woman, since
she introduced me to you.
Poor little Lucy How grateful
you are for small mercies But you
have not answered my que stion. VIII
You marry me in n month";"
81 suppose it will be very undigni-
fed to consent, but if it will make you
happy-yes.
We talked Of many things after this,
in a practical and sensible way, US
though we were already old married
people, and when we heard fathers
voice in the hall Gilbert went out to
speak with him, and | ran upstairs to
tell the latest turn of affairs TO Marion.
She was in the room we called the
ycIk room, and she was hard at work
on an old sheet, turning the stout part
| to the centre.
l sat down opposite her idly, my face
between my hands and my elbows on
| the table.
| wanted her to say something that
would encourage NE to tell my tale
hut she did not utter single word no.
lit her eyes from her sewing.
"Why don't you talk to me ?" |
asked pettishly you won't have me TO
talk to long. Gilbert and ] are to be
married in October"
Il hope you will be very happy
81 think We are sure to be. Don't
you like him?"
"He seems very charming man. "
There was nothing more to be got
out of her, so went down stairs, and
she remained in the work-room all day
But whatever she was doing she was
not sewing. for / found her needle
sticking in the very same spot OF IRON
mold that L had noticed when ] was
talking to her.
Il.